Published: Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

OCALA - The Ashley Hampton Express is headed to Lakeland.
The St. John forward continued her postseason onslaught, hanging 29 points and 17 rebounds on second-ranked Merritt Island Christian Saturday night, and moving the Lady Saints into their first-ever Class 1A final four.
Sixth-ranked St. John (22-5) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to the 57-45 victory in the 1A-2 region finals.
"We're going to state," Hampton said after her fifth straight postseason double-double. "I'm unexplainable excited right now.
"For three years we've been getting to the same point . . . but now we've got the determination and the drive, and the chemistry - it always goes back to the chemistry - we're just really lucky to have that."
Senior Annie-Grace Shaffer ignited the home team with the game's only 3-pointer less than 2 minutes in, and by the time Hampton followed a blocked shot with a coast-to-coast layup at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter, the Saints had scored the game's first 11 points.
Hampton would add two more blocks in the second half as the Saints shook off some spotty play - they committed 30 turnovers in all - by getting after the Cougars on the defensive end.
But eight straight whistles on St. John forced mass substitutions with Shaffer and forward Alexis Samuel each missing nearly six minutes of the second quarter with foul trouble. Sophomore guard Alex French and junior forward Rebekah Corn filled the void, though, as St. John managed to push its lead to 34-20 at the half.
Point guard Amy Ergle posted 3 of her 6 steals in the third quarter as the Saints defense again set the tone in the second half. Ergle would finish the night with 8 points.
On the other end, Cougars coach Cathy Quinn was forced to go to a box-and-1 with a long line of players ordered to deny Hampton the basketball. But nobody could corral the Florida A&M signee as she grabbed defensive boards and moved the ball effortlessly down the court with the pass and dribble.
And when Hampton got it on the blocks - she finished. She tallied 11 2-point field goals in all - many with multiple Cougars hanging on her - and made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch.
St. John head coach Kim Pompey-Bell, who also happens to be Hampton's mother, couldn't hide her pride after leading the Saints to the final four in just her second season at the helm.
"It's amazing to watch (Ashley)," Pompey-Bell said. "I've taught her since she was 3-4 years old, so to see her grow and prosper and develop. She's amazing. And she gets better and better every game."
"But it's a team effort. (Ashley's) got her talents and so do the other girls. Without the rest of them, she wouldn't be where she is now."
Where she is, along with three other seniors - Shaffer, Ergle and defensive specialist Rebeccah Westol - is on the cusp of playing for a state title.
Samuel aided her frontcourt mate with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Which Hampton was quick to point out.
"Everyone knows their job; everyone supports each other," Hampton said. "When we get down ... we just know there's no choice but to win. When we go out with that mindset, we can do anything."
The Saints will now face No. 9 Sarasota Christian, a 54-47 winner over Seffner Christian, in the 1A state semifinal game. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Pompey-Bell doesn't plan on changing a thing as the Saints prepare for Wednesday's showdown.
"It's business as usual," she said. "Why fix it if it's not broken.
"We'll just strategize and do the best that we can with what we have. We don't let teams dictate to us. We take charge; we take control; and do what we do best, which is play as a team."
Hampton echoed her mom's words, saying only the scenery will change.
"Whatever court we're on, we'll be ready to play on it," Hampton said. "It doesn't really matter."
Erica Robes paced the Cougars with 22 points.MERRITT ISLAND (45) - Theoret 8, Quinn 5, Crawford 5, Robes 22, A. DeWitt 5. TOTALS: 17 11-25 45. 3-pointers - none.ST. JOHN (57) - Hampton 29, Ergle 8, Samuel 13, Shaffer 5, Corn 4. TOTALS: 18 20-27 57. 3-pointers - Shaffer.

OCALA - The Ashley Hampton Express is headed to Lakeland.<BR>
The St. John forward continued her postseason onslaught, hanging 29 points and 17 rebounds on second-ranked Merritt Island Christian Saturday night, and moving the Lady Saints into their first-ever Class 1A final four.<BR>
Sixth-ranked St. John (22-5) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to the 57-45 victory in the 1A-2 region finals.<BR>
"We're going to state," Hampton said after her fifth straight postseason double-double. "I'm unexplainable excited right now.<BR>
"For three years we've been getting to the same point . . . but now we've got the determination and the drive, and the chemistry - it always goes back to the chemistry - we're just really lucky to have that."<BR>
Senior Annie-Grace Shaffer ignited the home team with the game's only 3-pointer less than 2 minutes in, and by the time Hampton followed a blocked shot with a coast-to-coast layup at the 4:42 mark of the first quarter, the Saints had scored the game's first 11 points.<BR>
Hampton would add two more blocks in the second half as the Saints shook off some spotty play - they committed 30 turnovers in all - by getting after the Cougars on the defensive end.<BR>
But eight straight whistles on St. John forced mass substitutions with Shaffer and forward Alexis Samuel each missing nearly six minutes of the second quarter with foul trouble. Sophomore guard Alex French and junior forward Rebekah Corn filled the void, though, as St. John managed to push its lead to 34-20 at the half.<BR>
Point guard Amy Ergle posted 3 of her 6 steals in the third quarter as the Saints defense again set the tone in the second half. Ergle would finish the night with 8 points.<BR>
On the other end, Cougars coach Cathy Quinn was forced to go to a box-and-1 with a long line of players ordered to deny Hampton the basketball. But nobody could corral the Florida A&M signee as she grabbed defensive boards and moved the ball effortlessly down the court with the pass and dribble.<BR>
And when Hampton got it on the blocks - she finished. She tallied 11 2-point field goals in all - many with multiple Cougars hanging on her - and made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch.<BR>
St. John head coach Kim Pompey-Bell, who also happens to be Hampton's mother, couldn't hide her pride after leading the Saints to the final four in just her second season at the helm.<BR>
"It's amazing to watch (Ashley)," Pompey-Bell said. "I've taught her since she was 3-4 years old, so to see her grow and prosper and develop. She's amazing. And she gets better and better every game."<BR>
"But it's a team effort. (Ashley's) got her talents and so do the other girls. Without the rest of them, she wouldn't be where she is now."<BR>
Where she is, along with three other seniors - Shaffer, Ergle and defensive specialist Rebeccah Westol - is on the cusp of playing for a state title.<BR>
Samuel aided her frontcourt mate with 13 points and 7 rebounds. Which Hampton was quick to point out.<BR>
"Everyone knows their job; everyone supports each other," Hampton said. "When we get down ... we just know there's no choice but to win. When we go out with that mindset, we can do anything."<BR>
The Saints will now face No. 9 Sarasota Christian, a 54-47 winner over Seffner Christian, in the 1A state semifinal game. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 a.m.<BR>
Pompey-Bell doesn't plan on changing a thing as the Saints prepare for Wednesday's showdown.<BR>
"It's business as usual," she said. "Why fix it if it's not broken.<BR>
"We'll just strategize and do the best that we can with what we have. We don't let teams dictate to us. We take charge; we take control; and do what we do best, which is play as a team."<BR>
Hampton echoed her mom's words, saying only the scenery will change.<BR>
"Whatever court we're on, we'll be ready to play on it," Hampton said. "It doesn't really matter."<BR>
Erica Robes paced the Cougars with 22 points.<BR>
<b>MERRITT ISLAND (45) </b>- Theoret 8, Quinn 5, Crawford 5, Robes 22, A. DeWitt 5. TOTALS: 17 11-25 45. 3-pointers - none.<BR>
<b>ST. JOHN (57)</b> - Hampton 29, Ergle 8, Samuel 13, Shaffer 5, Corn 4. TOTALS: 18 20-27 57. 3-pointers - Shaffer.<BR>